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| Muslim run NGO cleaning Devika, sacred Hindu river in Udhampur | | Jammu's unique communal harmony message! | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Mar 18: An Udhampur based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) 'Jiyo aur Jeene Do' has taken up the task of restoring pristine glory of holy river Devika. What makes this cleaning operation special is that the member of the NGO who has been leading the operation is by faith a Muslim. Tariq Shah, an employee does not waste his leisure time but utilizes it in cleaning Devika, known in the ancient Hindu scripts as the elder sister of Ganga. He returns from his office at around 4.30 pm and within half an hour leaves to carry on the cleaning operation in the sacred river.
Though he accepts that it is humanly impossible to clean the river for their NGO which has no sources of money but affirms that he would continue to strive for restoring the pristine glory of this sacred river. He alongwith his teacher wife, Rinku Shah are besides participating in the cleaning operation of Devika River, regularly organizing awareness drives, apprising people about the importance of keeping river Devika and its adjoining area clean. Shah asserts that his faith does not come in his way. "I am a Muslim but that does not stop me from taking up the cleaning operation of river Devika. The Indian spirit of 'country first' inspires me to carry on my work," said Shah while talking to Early Time Plus. He added "I opened my eyes in a city which is at the banks of a sacred river Devika. But the condition of river Devika saddens me. It is highly polluted and thus, I decided to take up this pious task."
He added that a grand fair is held at Devika on the eve of Baisakhi which lasts for two and a half day. "People from far off places from Jammu region participate in this fair. There is an ancient Shiva Temple on the bank of holy Devika. On the days of Soma Amavasya and Baisakhi a large of number people from Udhampur and adjoining villages throng this shrine for having a dip in the Holy Devika. But polluted Devika would be cursing us all for our inability to bring it back to life," Shah said energetically.
He pointed out that religious sanctity of holy Devika river is being continually polluted due to the diversion-cum-channelization of local drainage of Udhampur town in Holy River. "Some families of Udhampur town living along river Devika do not have septic tanks in their Houses and it is these families who directly channelize their waste towards Devika," asserted Shah. He further said that Government should use its best offices to bring Devika back to life.
"I am a Government employee and I have my limitations. My overtime is not enough to restore glory of river Devika. State Government should step in and ensure that this Holy River attracts the eye of every one visiting Jammu. "There is a natural spring at village Londana near Battal Ballian in Udhampur and people suffering from skin ailments are being cured after having a dip in the spring. It is believed that this is due to shrine Shakti of Baba Londana," informed Shah.
Deputy Coordinator of NGO, Aftab said that our NGO has earlier also given a message to people by putting fishes and other aquatic animals in river Devak. "They did not survive due to pollution but no action has been taken so far by concerned department," added Aftab. Ravi Jamwal, another member of the NGO said that the river is not only sacred but has historic significance for people of Udhampur. For many, who find Shah's work obstructive in their communal politics, the NGO man says that Hindu-Muslim unity is the essence of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. "Unity does not mean just parroting the word "Ekta". You have to work on ground to ensure that it is there and people feel it. I am firm believer of religious harmony being spoken about less and practically justified more," added Rinku Shah, wife of the NGO man. |
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